Sturgeon Bay man charged in 2017 death of bicyclist

STURGEON BAY - A 38-year-old Sturgeon Bay man has pleaded not guilty in the 2017 death of a woman who was riding a bicycle to a charge of homicide by use of a vehicle.

Jeffrey K. Lautenbach was charged with homicide with a vehicle in the death of Lou Branham, 74, who died after she was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Door County A and Juddville Road in the town of Gibraltar. Branham was riding a bicycle about 4:30 p.m. July 22, 2017 when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Lautenbach.

The investigation into her death remained open while the Door County Sheriff's Office waited for the results from a toxicology test of Lautenbach's blood.

Lautenbach was charged Nov. 7 after the results of the blood test showed he had controlled substances in his system at the time of the crash.

According to the court documents, Lautenbach is scheduled for a status conference in Door County Circuit Court Feb. 14.

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